Kolkata jail inmates stage English play

West Bengal Department of Correctional Services recently came up with an unique initiative of staging the English play, 'Begum Sumroo', performed by the inmates of Alipore Correctional home.

The play written by late Pratap Sharma, was directed by Rohit Pombra, the artistic director of Stagecraft, one of Kolkata's renowned English language theatre groups.

"The journey of cultural services therapy was started back in 2008. The main idea is to integrate them so that they realise that they are important in the society and give them chance to improve. Socializing them is a difficult job, they never thought that they will be coming on stage and performing," said Ranveer Kumar, I.G. (Prision).

"Balmiki Pratibha already got a call to perform in New York Bengali community. When it comes to this play, we will first stick to promote it in India, and then go International platform" said Kumar.

"The society is responding to the needs of the jail inmates and we are happy to lend for such a noble cause. We chose this play written by late Pratap Sharma, to draw attention to an inspiring personality who in spite of making a mark of her own got lost somewhere in the history. The life and personality of Begum Sumroo inspires the inmates to be optimistic toward life," said Sanjay Jain, MD Siddha Group.

The play was a joint initiative of I.G. of correctional homes, Siddha Group and Rohit Pombra.